Learning to weld

Energy One

chubs

Guru
you are correct about the Mig. I run Flux core with 100% argon gas. it.s probably the easiest weld to master. First thing my welding teacher taught me was to braze plates together using Oxygen & Acetylene with a brass flux rod. then I moved to Arc, fist welding down then after that was mastered, to vertical then overhead. Then I moved to Tig using a rod brazing method, not a wire gun. Then last I learned to Mig. The course was 18 months. BTW, auto flash helmets at the end of the day will screw your eye's up. Specially if you are striking an arc alot. There is a slight hesitation from when you strike the arc to when the shield darkens. Over the corse of 7-8 hrs of welding you can actually burn your eye's. I use 2 helmets. One a old school pipeline hood. The other a pipeline hood mounted on a hard hat. I change out the lens from a #10 to a 14 depending on what style I am welding arc or tig. But Paul you will never flash blind yourself with the old pipeline hood. Just don't strike an arc before dropping your hood. One other thing is your gloves. Instead of the bulky welding gloves pay a little more money and get some elk hide. They cost about $20 more BUT, you have a better grip on your leeds. One other thing. If you get a arc welder get a stinger for the pos. leed 8' long.
After learning to oxy- acetylene weld, weaving the torch around to work the puddle, you have to get used to not weaving with the tig torch. I do agree about hoods and lenses. Having fried my eyes enough times, I changed to a #10 gold lens. It gives a more realistic view of the weld and reflects more heat away from your face. I know it's stupid, but anymore when I'm outside in the sunlight, I just wear sunglasses when I mig weld. Usually end up with a goofy sunburn on the face.
 
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